Lock or locking device



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,567 W. HEMINGWAY, JR

LOCK 0R LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1925 I l T\\ i fif v z a \7 Wi /2); J."

Patented Nov. 1, 1927.1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILSON HEMINGWAY, JR, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO THE ELECTROLOCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VICKSIBURG. MISSISSIPPI. A COR- PORA'IION OF MISSISSIPPI.

LOCK OR; LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed September 10, 1925. Serial No. 55,518.

This invention has reference to locks or locking devicesbut'relates more particularly One purpose or objectofl'the invention is to provide means of novel construction which make it practically impossible for the lock releasing key to be inadvertently left in the lock at any time.

It also is a purpose or object of the invention to provide means of novel construction whereby when the releasing key has been actuated to release, the, lock mechanism to close or permiflclosing of the switch to close the ignition circuit the said lock mechanism cannot be returned; to locked position to open the said switch without first removing said key.

Another object of the'inv'ention isto provide means of novel construction whereby,'

after the release of the lock mechanism by a rel-easing key and the removal of the key from the lock, it is impractical to reinsert the key into the lock until after thevlocking mechanism has been returned to locked position.

To these ends the inventionin one practical embodiment thereof consists essentially in the provision of a switch having a key releasable lock for securing the switch contacts in circuit breaking position and restraining means in the formof a novel keyholeguard arranged to compel removal of the key from,the lock immediately on releasement of the latter as a necessary precedent to shifting the switch contacts from circuit breaking to circuit closing position. The aforesaid restraining means is-disp'laceable to an inoperative position on removal of the key from the look so as to permit actuation of the switch contacts to circuit closing position but whenso displaced the key hole guard portion thereof is positioned to prevent reinsertion of thekey in the lock until the switch contacts have been returned to and locked in the circuit breaking position. Otherpurposes and advantages of the in- 5 vention as well as the details of constructionand the arrangementof parts constitutving the preferred embodiment disclosed herein will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and ac- 'companying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view of the front end of the lock as it \Vlll appear in the locked position of theswitch with the parts arranged for the insertion of the key.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through th'ecasing and other artsof the switch, certain elements being s own in elevation.

, Fi'gures'3, 5 and 7 are views similar-to 1 Figure 'lbut showing-the parts in difierent positions. a

Figures 4, 6 and 8 are views similar to 1 1gure 2 but showing the parts in the differunlocking and relocking of the "cut positions to which they will. be moved ing application Serial Number 709,695, filed Apt-28,1924, and hence, for present purposes, wlll be briefly treated as follows: The

casing 5 houses therein a pair of relativelyspaced' blocks 6 and 7 whichare composed. of any suitable insulating material and formec with aligned guide-bores 8 and 9 in which are arranged the ends of a reciprocable stem 10 having its central portion shaped to present inclined surfaces 11 and 12*slopmg downwardly from a'central ridge 13. The block 7 carries a pair of spaced stationary contacts 14 which constitute terminals of an ignition circuit (not shown) and are adapted to be bridged at times by a movable contact 15 encircling the stem 10. This contact 15 consists of a ring shaped casing open along its inner periphery and housing a circular coiled spring 16 which is always in gripping engagement with the stem 10.

In the open position of the switch the aforementioned parts are arranged as in Figure 2 with the contact 15 lying at the left of ridge 13 and against the block 6. When it is desired to close the switch, stem 10 is moved to the left, as hereinafter de scribed, until ridge 13 passes through coil spring 16 at which time the pressure exerted by the spring 16 on the inclined surface 12 will cause the movable contact 15 to snap to-the right and into engagement with the contacts 14. To open the switch the stem 10 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figure 6 until the inclined surface 11 is brought into engagement with spring '16 at which time the movable contact 15 will be caused to snap back to the position shown suitable key is inserted in the keyhole to rein Figure 2.

The stem is moved to the right and locked in the position shown in Figure 2 :through the me'dium' of a lockbarrel 17 slidably mounted in one end of the casing 5 and bearing against one terminal of the stem. mechanism including a spring projected bolt 18 adapted to automatically enter an opening 19 of the casing when the barrel is moved inwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, The sliding movement of the lock barrel relative to the cas ng is limited by 1 stop pin20 projecting inwardly from the wall of the casing 5 and having i'ts'inner extremity disposed in a recess 21 formed in and extending longitudinally of the-barrel 17. lVhenthe bolt 18 ot the lock mechanism is retracted from the opening 19 movement of the stem 10 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 6 is el'l'ected automatically through the agency of a spring 1 it 22 having one end seated in a pocket 23 formed in the stem 10 and the other end bearing against the inner end wall of the guide bore 9. Y

' The present invention, as adapted to the switch describedin the foregoing, consists of a switch control device 24 in the form of a sleeve which enclrcles the lockibarrel 17 and is rotatable thereon. The outer end of the sleeve is closed as indicated at 25--to provide a key-hole guard formed with an opening 26 adapted to register at times with a key-hole 27 formed in the lock barrel l7 for the reception of a suitable key T'(1'1ot shown) byv which the bolt 18 is retracted from the opening 19. Sleeve 24 is formed with a circumferentially extending slot-28' through which extends the aforesaid stop pin 20 of the casing 5; At one end of this slot is formedwith an extension 29 projecting toward the inner end of the sleeve and made of a transverse width substantially equal to the width of the recess 21 with which saidextension is adapted at times to register. A sufficient portion ofthe inner edge of the sleeve'is cut awayas "indicated at 30 to permit vthe sleeve to havev the requisite turning movement on the lock barrel without interference by the bolt 18.

In describing the operation of the switchv with my invention applied thereto we will assume the switch to be in the locked position shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this po- .sition of the switch the contact 15' isseparated from the contacts 14;- with the result that the ignition circuit is broken. The

switch control sleeve 24 is so positioned that the opening 27 at the outer end of the sleeve is arranged directly over the key-hole 27 while the extension 29 of the sleeve slot 28 is disposed at the side of-the recess 21 remote from the bolt -18. To close the switch a This barrel carries a suitable 'locle From the foregoing it will be-apparent tract the bolt 18 from'the opening 9' and when this has been none the pressure of spring will force stem 10 and lock barrel 17 to the left until the inner edge28 of the slot 28 engages the stop pin 20 at which time further increment ofithe stem and barrel is arrested with the parts disposed as in Figure 4. The aforesaid movement of the stem from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure l is not suflicient to bring the sloping surface 12 into engage .n'ientwith the spring 16 and hence during this movement ofothe stem there will be nochange in the position of the contact 15 so that the ignition circuit is still open whenthe parts assume the position shown in Figure l. In order to permit the stem and the. lock barrel to be moved from the position shown in Fig-ure 4: to the switch closing po sition shown in Figure 6 itis necessary that the switch control slecve2 l be rotated in af counter clock-wise direct-ion relative to the lock-barrel-17' so as'to'bring the extension- 29 of the slot 28 over ithe'inner end of-the recess 21 and when this has been donethe lock barrel and stem are free'to move fur-T ther to the left under the infiuence of spring 22.unt1l the pin is engaged-against the inner end of the extension 29 as shown in Figure as the rotation of the switch control sleeve v 6. In this connect on itwillbe noted that 24 from the position shown in- Figure 4 to that shown :in Figure, 6 causes the opening 27 at theoutervend' of the sleeve to move out of registration with the key-hole 27 it" xisnecessary that'the key be 'removed froni" the latter before such rotation of the sleeve 24'. can be effected and thus itwillbe seen that removal of the key from the "lockisa compulsory step in theopera'tion of shiftingthe movable.contact' 15 from the position shown in igure 2 toltheswitch closing p'osition shown in Figure 6. When theparts are in the position asshown in Figureti' andit is desired to lock the switch in the open position. this is ace-our I position shown in Figure 8' wherein it will 7 plished by shoving the switch control sleeve 5 be"noted*that the movementof thevsteni I 11 to the right from the positionshown in Figure 6 has caused .the contact 15 to snap away from the contacts 14 and into en 'a e -ment with the block-6. After the'parts have reached the position shown in Figure 8 the.

sleeve is rotated in a clock-wisedirection on'the lock' barrel 17- to" return the slot 18 V and its extens1on29 to the position shown in Figure 2 and during this turning movement of the sleeve :24 thei gQSd's Main alignedwith th 'k Y, g

.est aspect to various types of locks other that there is littlelikelihood of the key being left .in my improved lock switch v at any time because after inserting and operating the key to release the lock it is necessary to remove the key before the switch contacts can be shifted to circuit closing position from the locked or circuit-breaking position.

, 'Afterlremoval ofthe key it is necessary,

prior to shifting the switchcontacts to circuit breaking position to operate the switch control sleeve 24 or device of the restraining means from the position shown in Figure 2 -'-tlie key will not ordinarily be inserted ex--' cept for the purposeof opening the. switch to that shown in Figure 6 and in the latter position of the sleeve, the outer wall covers the key hole slot 27 and serves to prevent reinsert ion of the key until theswitch has been returned to the locked position and in the latterposition-of the switch in the process of which the key mustbe re.'

1 moved I so that there isvery little danger of the key being inadvertently left in the lock at any time. The. important advantage resulting from this or any other arrangement embodying 'myinvention is that 1t.1ncreases the efiiciencybf the theft protection afforded by the lock and. enables a lower insurance rate to be than electrical switch locks and the claims are to be construed accordin ly.

' i From the foregoing it wil be clear that after the key has been employed to release the 'lobking mechanism and removedlfi'om the lock it is impractical to reinsert the same. until after the IOCklIIg mGChaIIIlSm haslbeen' returned to locked position.

WVhatI claim is: 1 1. A switchlock including a key releasable locking 'mechanism for securing thesw tch contacts 1n one position, and means arranged to compel removal of the key after release of the'locking mechanlsx'n .as anecessary precedent to shifting of theQsWitch contacts fromfthe locked position.

A switch including key releasable lockin g means for securing the switch contacts in one position, means for automatically shifting'the switch contacts from locked position when the locking mechanism is released throu h the agency of said key and a,

restrainin evice functioning to render the last nam mean inefiective as long as the ofsald element from locked completed.

key is permitted to remain in the locking 'mechanism' subsequent to release of the latter, said restraining means being operable,

upon removal of the key, to a position permittin'g shifting of the switch contact from the locked posit-ion.

3. The combination of a switch, a key releasable lock mechanism for securing the switch in circuit closing position, a releasing key engageable with said locking mechaj nism,' means for automatically opening the switch upon release of said locking mecha-' nism, and restraining means functioning, on release or the locklng mechanism, to prevent opening of the switch whlle the key remains in the lock, said restraining means being held against displacement toan inoperative position by the key when the 'la-tteris engagedin the lock; a a g 4. The combination ofa switch including all a contact actuator operable to either of two contact shifting'po'sitions for opening and closing the switch, key releasable locking means-01 securing-saidactuatorin one of" said positions, spring means for shifting said actuator to the other posit on thereof onrelease offlthe locking. mechanism, and dis- 4 placeable means serving, in thelocked position of the switclnto limit movement of the actuator underthe influence of said spring and to such" an extent as to render the latter 'ineffectiveior shifting the actuator to the extent necessary to effect a change in the pos tion of the switch contacts, said means eing held. against displacement to an, in-

operative posltion by the key when the latter 15 engaged in the lock. 1 Y 5. Thecombination ofan element movable to 'either of two positions, key. releasable;

means forlocking saidelement in one posi- "tionpandmeans arranged to compelremoval of'the key from the locking means subses ary step in completing'shi-fting of said ele ment from the locked to the other position to which said element is intended to'be" moved.

quent to release of the latter and as a neces- 6. Thelcombination'aof anelement shift-v able to either of two-p.ositions,"means acting automatically'to lock said element in place" when the latter is moved to one ofsaid-positions, a removable key engagelable 'gvith said i isp acea le means 4 means for releasing same,

arrangedto limit the extent to'which said elementmay be moved from thelocked position on release-of the locking means, said displaceable means being shiftable to an inoperative position only upon .removal'of the 'key and serving, when disposed in inoperative osition, to permit shifting movement 7. electric switch, comprising,- in com bination, a lock including key releasable locking mechanism, and a. rotatable member position .to be -key hole'jofthe lock.

85A switch lock including a 'loclri'ng mechanism for locking'the switch in 'open position, said mechanismbeing key releasable by a key, and means operatlng after the release ofthe locking mechanism and after the removal of the keyfrom the lock and th-eclosing of the switch to prevent reinsertion"ofjthekey. into the lock until after the return of ,tl'iellocking' mechanism into lock'ed position. i

[(3 switch comprising con- 9. In an electr tac'ts whi ch-' are relatively movable into closed and open positions to close, and openan electric circuit, the combination of a shifting device for effecting relative movement of said contacts into closed or open.

- position, a lock including a key releasable lockingjmech'anism for. maintaining the conmats in open'position; and a control device operable afterrelease of sard lo'ckmgmechanlsm'vand removal of the key from the lock,

to permit movement of said shifting device to cause relative-movement of the'said contacts into closed position, and thesaid device thereafter operatinguntil the return ofsaid locking mechanism" to locked position f to prevent insertion of saidikey 'into- .the'

lock. v. 10.'In a switch, the-combination of a shiftable contact, an actuator for shifting.

said contact into open" and closed positions, a lockmounted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to-the said actuatortto control the inward and outward movements of the latter, the said lock including a loclging mechanisinfor locking the actuator in one position, a control devicero-- tatably mounted upon the said'lock, and 'i means cooperating with the said control vde-- Vice to control the inward and outwardj movements of the said'lock;

11. The combination of a switch,--a key releasable lock for securing said switch in open position, a'inember arranged to compel movement thereof to a keyhole covering position, subsequent to; releasementflof the lock, in order to efi'ect closingofthe switch and means ,functioning, on] closure "of the switch, to retain said member injkey hole covering position until. the switch isfreturned to and locked in openpositionl 12. Afswi ch lock 'ncl dingla; locking" mechanism for locking the switch in open position, said mechanism being releasable f by a removable key, and means requiring to be 'operated to a predetermined pos1tionsub j termined position only upon removal-of the gsequent' to releaeementof the lock in order topermit closure ofthe switch, said means being arranged for operation to said prede-j keyfrom the lock. and serving, on closure returned to andlocked-in 0 en position.

' WILSON HEMI GWAY, JR;

of. the switch, to "prevent reinsertionof the I "key-into the lock until after the switch is 

